Artificial nesting site proves to be worth the wait

For three seasons Alberta Conservation Association biologists waited to see if their introduced nesting site would work. This spring it did.

Piping Plovers are an endangered species in North America. In Alberta, the most recent numbers have the population estimated to be around 100 birds. Like most other species facing possible extinction, habitat loss and heavy predation have kept their numbers low.

Three eggs laid this spring validate the new nesting site

Creating an artificial habitat seemed to be one way to give these interesting shore birds a helping hand. Sand and gravel were delivered to a site just east of Edmonton near a lake that was already supporting nesting Plovers. Biologists were hopeful the birds would take notice of the new real-estate development and make a move.